German call for greater EU powers of intervention amid anti-Semitism fears in Hungary

The European Union should be given new powers to intervene in the affairs of
member states to tackle anti-Semitism and other human rights abuses,
Germany’s foreign minister has said.

German Foreign Minister Guido WesterwellPhoto: AFP/GETTY IMAGES

By Bruno Waterfield and agencies

9:00PM BST 06 May 2013

Guido Westerwelle told a congress of Jewish leaders in Budapest that the EU needed better legal resources at a time of growing concerns over the rise of anti-Semitism in Hungary, and warnings that the country risks drifting away from democratic principles.

Referring to the EU’s current powers to impose constitutional requirements on its member states as a “toothpick”, Mr Westerwelle repeated his call for the European Commission to be given a new human rights watchdog role independent of national vetoes.

“Between the toothpick and the big bazooka, there is not an instrument we can [use] if developments of concern start in a government or in a country,” he told the meeting of the World Jewish Congress, being held in Budapest to highlight rising anti-Semitism and racism in Hungary.

Four EU countries — Germany, Denmark, Finland and the Netherlands — have given the commission new powers to impose sanctions against countries, because the current European treaties allow penalties only if a country systematically abuses “fundamental rights”.

Mr Westerwelle has added Germany’s voice to mounting concerns over extreme nationalism in Hungary and EU criticism that Viktor Orban’s government is eroding the checks and balances common to European democracies.

“The European Commission and the Council of Europe have not concealed their criticism of the Hungarian government. It must now be spoken about openly and honestly.”

Mr Westerwelle joined Jewish leaders to urge Mr Orban to do more to stem anti-Semitism by taking a “zero tolerance” approach to Jobbik, an extreme Right-wing nationalist party that is Hungary’s third largest political force.